A 10 minute Absurdist Play
by
Kade Spann
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JOHN ………………………………………………..…….……………. A young adult, male.
JANE …………………………………………………………………… A young adult, female.
SCENE
We are in a barren, sterile, nondescript chamber.
TIME
It is irrelevant.
(AT RISE, JOHN and JANE are sitting opposite each other at the
table. There is a six-shooter revolver on the table between them)
JOHN
We’re doing this?
JANE
We’re doing this.
JOHN
Why are we doing this?
JANE
He said so.
JOHN
So he did.
JANE
Yes, he did.
JOHN
You first.
JANE
Why not you?
JOHN
You said you’d go first.
JANE
No, you did!
JOHN
Ah! That’s right.
(John picks up the revolver, puts it against his temple, and pulls the
trigger. An empty click answers the shot)
JANE
My turn.
(She takes the revolver out of his hand, hesitates, and pulls the
trigger. There is only an empty click. She sets it down)
JOHN
We should count.
JANE
I agree. Two.
JOHN
Two?
JANE
Two.
JOHN
Not four?
JANE
Two.
JOHN
Two?
JANE
Two.
JOHN
Okay.
(He picks up the gun, puts it to his temple, and fires. An empty
click)
JOHN (cont’d)
Three.
(He offers it to JANE. She takes it, aims at her temple, and shoots)
JANE
Four.
(JOHN takes it from her and takes his turn)
JOHN
Five
(JANE takes it and puts the barrel against her temple. She
hesitates with a long pause then shoots. An empty click)
JANE
Six.
JOHN
Six?
JANE
Six.
JOHN
Did we miscount?
JANE
Six.
JOHN
Okay.
(She puts the gun down on the table. They stare at it)
JANE
Are we done?
JOHN
Did he say we were done?
JANE
Didn’t he say we were done at six?
JOHN
No, he didn’t say that.
JANE
Are you sure?
JOHN
I’m sure.
JANE
Okay.
(Long pause, they stare at the gun)
JOHN
I guess we keep doing it?
JANE
Yes.
JOHN
Okay.
(He takes the gun and takes his turn. Surprise! An empty click)
JOHN (cont’d)
Seven.
JANE
(taking her turn)
Eight.
JOHN
(taking his turn)
Nine.
(They continue taking turns and counting. LIGHTS OUT)
END OF SCENE
